Fountain pen



Jan. 15, 1935. A H, SWAN 1,987,646

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed 061,. 2l, 1932 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITI-:D 'STATES APAT.aN-r OFFICE 'FOUNTAINPENW l Alfred Swan, Los Angeles, Calif." l i Application october 2 1, 1932, serial No'. css,eso

lsolaims.- (Cino-Q47) v l My invention relates broadly to yfountain pens and more particularly to Van improved construction of self lling fountain pen.

One of the objects of my invention is ,to provide an improved constructionof self filling fountain pen which is efficient in operation and inexpensive in manufacture and assembly on a quantity production basis. v Another object of my'inventio'n is -tov provide a 1o construction oiself filling fountain pen having a large capacity reservoirfor ink, and adapted to be convenientlylled and arranged for Vthe uniform feeding of ink to the pen point.-

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of multiple Vsection fountain'f pen having means for preventing leakage of ink frorn the pen while allowingnorrnalflling and writing operations.

A still furtherobject of. my invention is topro.-

2 0 vde a lconstruction of. telescoping'barrels' for `fountain pens havinga multiplicity' of. lubricating seals for preventingleakageandcapillary passage of ink, at the same time substantially 1 u bricatzig;v

the relatively movab1e .barrel `s `Another object o f my. inventionis'to provide a construction of fountain' pen afcent'ral reservoir adapted to be filled by a'suction operation Aeffected by movement of one of 'a plurality of telescopic sections, with .means for releasing 3 9 entrapped air through a central-tube extendingV .through the reservoir tothe feed' sectionof the 13611.

Still another object of myinvention is to provide .a system of valves fora multiplesection pen ope erative to effectrllling and feedingoperaton of the penwithout leakage of inkandinsuring" the prop eregressofairA v Other and;further objects of myfinventionlreside in the construction of inl;v 'llingfand feeding mechanism for fountain pensas set forth.' more fully in the specification hereinafter followinglby reference to the accompanying-'.d r a", w`11`ig,. in which: .Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional viewjtaken throughfthe fountain pen Aconstruction of my .in vention showing the positonof thepartsduring a filling operation of .the pen; Fig.f 2 -is acrosssectional view taken through the p'en illustrated in Fig. l and showing the position of 'theparts during a writing operationof the pen; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view 'takenthrough the drag-employed in the fountain pen structure,v the view being taken on line 3-53`o'f 1;"Fig.v 4 'is a crosssectional View `through vthepen on line 4f-'4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionalview taken through the penon line 5-5'of Figi; Fig. 6 'is a'fragmentary cross-sectional view of a'modifled formof drag structure employed in the pen of my constructiom' and Fig. '7 is a perspective view of 'a still further modiedfformof drag construction'.

.Referring particularly to the drawing, reference character. 1 designates the outerl barrel of the fountainpenJ 4'Ifhe lower end of .the outer barrel internallyjscrew 'threaded-at la. The upper end 'of th'ejouter barrel l1 is. internally screw threaded 'at Ib'and has an annular abutment 1c riveted thereto. as indicated at 1d immediately below the,internalscrewthreads 1b. Reference character 2designatesf the "innerjbarrel which forms the outerwallof the inkreservoir 5. The intermediate barrel 3 islongitllflnally,slidable in theSpace Vloet'vveength'e'v ,outer barrel 1 and the Yin'ner loarrel The intermediate barrel 3 ts tightly'against the innerbarrel Zand has an annular ange`3a at the lower end thereof which L* projectsagainstthe'interiorwall Of the outer barrel 1`.` 'I'he intermediate barrel 3 telescopes or jlidesvvithrespect to 'the `outer barrel 1 and inner rbarrel 2.`.'1 he 'solid lower portion of the fountain pen is designated at 4 andserves toconnect the `inner and outer'barrels. The Ysolidlower portion 4`i s externally screwthreaded at v4a to receive the internal screw threads 1a onouter barrel 1 thereby maintaining the inner and outer barrels in predetermined spaced relation. vThe lower end o f the barrel 4 isIprovided with an internally screw threaded bore 16 which receivesv the threaded member 28 carrying the feed 27 and'nib 26. 'I'he threaded, member 28 is" screwed wholly into the lower end of the barrel 4 leaving an annular opening at the .end of the barrelwhich receives the vinner screw threaded portion 24 of the cap 23. A channel `29 is provided in the feed 27 forv leading the vink to the nib through aperture 30 at the end `of the channel 29. .The hollow reservoir for holding the ink is represented at 5. The reservoir 'communicates freely at its lower end with the channel 29 inthe feed 27.

The upper end" of the telescopically slidable section 3 terminates in a finger grip or cap 6 which is relatively .thin walled and hollow to afford maximum capacity in the reservoir 5 for a relatively short barrel. VThe nger grip 6 is screw threaded as represented at 6a to engage with the internal screw threads 1b on the outerbarrel 1. The upper end of the inner barrel 2 has been vshown at 10 consisting of a laterally disposed section which' is apertured at its center as represented at 10a lto receivea tubular member 10b. Passing through the tubular member 10b, I provide the longitudinally shiftable air pipe 7. It will be noted that the air pipe 7 has an outwardly flanged end 7a at its upper extremity which is adapted to seat against the peripheral edge of the tubular member 10b when the air pipe 7 is shifted to its lowest position. The upper end of the air tube '7 and the tubular member 10b is spaced away from the peripheral ledge of thetubular member 10b to provide annular air vent space 11 when the air tube is' moved to its extreme upper position. The movement of the air tube 7 is limited by the abutment of the annular stop 31 with the lower face of the end sectionv 104g` in its extreme upper position as will be more fully described hereinafter. The outer surface of the inner barrel 2 is provided with-'a plurality of annular' grooves 8` ,formed inthe barrel. Thev grooves 8 are filledwith paraffin and provide a series of packing and lubricating zones progressively along the length of the inner barrel 2. These successive zones of parafnprovidegcontinuous lubrication fortheparts ofthe throughout the `useful life of thepen and also'se'r've `toVv provide substantial packing between the.,rnovable :parts of the .pen and prevent capillary seepagewof ink along` the barrel in the event thatany inkshould escape from reservoir' into the 'innerportion of the'intermediate barrel 2.' Parain is 'a solid at all ordinary temperaturesandwill noty wear out so that the penfwill not lose suction over l. its normal period d fLlife.

. Referencecharacter'Q designates a dragfwashei' which fits snuglywithin the ,upperr portion of 1in'- termediate barrel, 3. Thedir'nen'sionsl aresuch that there is substantial friction betweenthe peripheral edge ofdrag vwashers) and the interior ,walls off the intermediate barrel .3, The drag .washer has ua central aperture 9a thereinthr'ogh which the centrallift wire or, rod member`12 is secured; The connection between the lift wire or rod member `12` andthe dragy washer'9 is effected by means of a diametrically extending pin 12a around which the end lof the wire v12 is secured. Thedrag washer 9 is provided with a 'plurality of spiral slots 9d directlyfcut in the drag washer for imparting resiliency .tol the washerand enabling the Vwasher to grip the interior walls of the intermediate barrel 2. VThe slots 9d.are placed in the drag washer 9by any suitable saw or' other tool. 'Il'iefconstruction of the drag washer may be modified in variousways as has been'illustrated in Figs. y6 and 7.`` In Fig. 6 the. drag `washer9 has been shownas having an annular groove in'the peripheral edge thereof forming a seat foraA gas- Iket `9b which establishes'A frictional,v connection .with the interior wall of the intermediate barrel 3` as the intermediate barrel 3 is moved vertically. The lift wire or rod 12 is'connected with valve head 13 on the lower end thereof and serves to .seal the end of theair tube '7 as illustrated in Fig. A1v .when the intermediate barrel 3 is move'dvertically. This operation is-'eifected by reason of thefrictionalengagement between drag washer 9 andthe interior wall of the v intermediate barrel 3. "Ihe drag washer 9 is shifted by frictionallengagef ment with the interiorwalls ofthe intermediate .barrel 3 to shift the liftwire or rod 12 vertically ,and seat the valve 13 against` the rend of theair tube?. g Continued upper movement ofthe drag washer 9 tends to lift the air'tub'e Tthereby opening the air vent l1 by shifting the outwardly ared portion 'la of the air tube 'l away from its coacting seat on the tubular member 10b. 'Ihe filling operation is continued, the air seeping out through passage 31a, in stop 31 through vent 11, and also through the drag washer by Way of space 9a. or spiral cuts 9d, and into the interior of the intermediate barrel 3. When the filling operation is complete and the down stroke commences the drag washer 9 is frictionally moved by an abrasion of the interior wall of intermediate barrel 3 with the peripheral edge of the drag washer 9 effecting a downward displacement of wire or rod member 12, thereby opening valve 13 at the end of the air tube 7 to permit the escape of air out through the space 14, passage 14a and passageA 29, escaping through the eye 30. The drag washer 9 contacts with the upper edge of the flange 7a of air tube 7 forcing the flange against the: annular edge portion of the tube 10b and closing air vent 11thereby Apreventing air pressure acting upon the upper surface of the inkin the reservoir 5. T he ink in feeding to the nib and pen point isfree to Agravitate from reservoir through spaces 14 and 14a to ychannel 29 and through the eye 30 tothe penpoint as heretofore explained.

` The multiplicity of paraffin zones insures substantial lubrication between the telescoping in- 'termediatebarrel and ther inner barrel 2,`at the same time providing a'tight seal against the capillary seepage of ink.'v The closing of the air tube bya valve 13'insures against the excessive leakage of ink through the channel 29 and eye 30 of the'pen. The arrangementv of the stop 31 on the air;v tube,l 'l is such that the limit of movement of thev air'tube 'l is accurately predetermined.

The engagementof the tube 24 of the cap 23 with the internalscrew threads 16 at'the'end offthe barrel of (the pen insures a tight seal at theA end of .thenpen preventingthe leakage of ink while ,thefpen isy being carried and also avoids any exterior threading operation on the barrel 'ofthe pen. In thisway the Ymanufacturing cost issubstantially reduced vinasmuch as the same screw'threads which serve to support the feed assembly through member 28 in the end of the barrelof the pen also serve as the connecting mean'sfor lthe capon the'pen., Threads are un- ;desiiableonthe barrel Vof. a pen as they directly contact with the fingers. My construction entir'ely eliminates any exterior threads on the bar- ,rel to the increased comfort of the writer.

I l,havey found the pen construction of my invention highly. practical and successful in operation, and while I have described my invention in one of its preferred embodiments, I desire that it be `understood that modifications may be made and that, no limitations upon my invention are intended other than are imposed by the scope of the. appended, 1amS "`,`What Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a:fountain pen, a multiplicity of concentric sections,fone of said sections being longitudinally movable with respect to others of said sections, and. means carried by one of Asaid last mentioned sections comprising a multiplicity of annular recesses with waxlike material disposed therein for sealing the said last mentioned section with respect to. said longitudinally movable section. l f 1 2. Apen having a plurality of concentric cylindrical barrel sections including a stationary section,one of saidbarrel sections being telescopically movable with respect to others of said barrel ilgeevee "sections, and a plurality of spaced annular re- 3."I'n a fountain pen, a-multiplicity of concentric cylindrical barrels including a stationary in- 'ner cylindrical barrel, one of said barrels being telescopically slidable Withrespect to others of .said barrels, a multiplicity of spaced annular recesses in the stationary inner cylindrical barrel, :said recesses being filled withlubricating material forlestablishing a sealed "and lubricated connection' between said barrels'as saidslidable barrel is moved with respect `to said stationary barrel.

" 4. In a fountain pen, a multiplicity oficoncen- ',triccylindrical barrel sections, one of lsaid barrel sections constituting a reservoirfor ink, a feeding head connected with the lower end of said barrel, one of said lsections being telescopically 'slidable with respect to others of said sections, said barrel having a central port in the upper end thereof, an air tube extending through said port 'and through a portion of said feeding head and being longitudinally displaceable with respect thereto', a' drag washer disposed in the upper Ipoi-tion ofy said Atelescopically slidable section, a valve in the lower" end of said-'air tube, a connection extending through said air tube from said drag washer'` to `saidv valve, said drag washer operating under control of the movement of said y'telescopically movable section for simultaneously "controlling the operation of lsaid valve and the movement of said air tube with respect 'torsaid f fport'for controlling Athe filling and writing operations lof said pen.

-5. In a'fountain pen, a barrel, a plurality of concentric cylinders connected with said barrel, one of said cylinders being telescopically slidable with respect to said barrel, an ink feeding head connected with the lower end of said barrel, an air tube extending through a port in the upper end of said barrel and through a portion of said feeding head, a valve disposed at each end of said air tube, and an axially extending rod member controlled by said telescopically movable cylinder for simultaneously controlling the operation of both of said valves for effecting a lling and writing operation of said pen.

6. In a fountain pen, a barrel structure, a multiplicity of concentric cylindrical members connected with said barrel structure, one of said cylindrical members being telescopically slidable with respect to the others of said cylindrical members, an ink feeding head connected with the lower end of said barrel, an air tube extending axially through said barrel, a valve'at each end of said air tube, and an axially extending longitudinally movable rod member controlled by the operation of said telescopically slidable cylindrical members forA simultaneously controlling the operation of each of said Valves for effecting the filling and writing operation of said pen.

'7. In a fountain pen, a barrel structure, a multiplicity of cylindrical members connected with said barrel structure, one of said cylindrical members being telescopically slidable with respect to said barrel structure, an ink feeding head in the lower end of said barrel structure, an air feeding tube extending axially through said barrel and longitudinally shiftable in position with respect thereto, an air valve at each end of said air tube, and a longitudinally movable axially extending rod member in said telescopically slidable cylindrical members for alternately opening said valvesv for effecting filling and writing operations.

8. In a fountainrien','el barrel structure, an inl: feeding head exteni'lirig` from the lower end of said barrel structurdfa yrnillltipliozzity of concentrically disposed 'cylindrical [members connected with said c barrel structure, one'ofi'saidv cylindrical members being telescopically slidablewith respect tosaid barrel structure, a'odrag washer frictionally engaged with the interior'surface Y of said telescopicallyslidable-member, anvair tube extending' axiallythrough-said barrel-structure and longitudinally-shiftable with lrespect thereto;` an air valve atthelower'end of said'air tube; an air vent at the upper end of said `air tube;- anda connection between saiddrag jwasher and the air valve at thelo'wer end of said air tube for effecting a closing and openingoperation of both said air valve and said air ventA under control-of frictional forceimparted'tosaid'drag washer as said telescopically slidable member is operated with respectto lsaid barrel structure for controlling the filling and feeding operation of said pen.

y9. In a fountain pen, a lbarrel structure, a pair of concentrically disposed cylindrical members connected with said barrelstructure, one of said cylindrical members beingtelescopically slidable with respect to said barrel structure, an ink feeding head connected-with the lower end of said barrel structure; the upper end of said barrel structure having a' centrall port therein,y an air tube extending through said central por-t, a valve extending through the lower end of said air tube,

said air :tube having a portion at its upper extremity coacting-with'sai'd port` for controlling the passage of air from said barrelstructure into said 4telescopically' movable cylindrical member, a drag washer operative gwithin the interior of the upper portion of v'said telescopically slidable cylindrical member, a connection from said drag washer to the valve at the lower end of said air tube, a limiting abutment carried by said air tube adjacent the upper end of said barrel for limiting the longitudinal movement of said pair tube, said drag washer operating to simultaneously control the operation of the valves at each end of said air tube for controlling the filling and feeding operations of said pen.

10. In a fountain pen, a barrel structure, a multiplicity of concentrically disposed cylindrical members, one of said cylindrical members being telescopically slidable with respect to said barrel structure, an ink feeding head in the end of said barrel structure, a multiplicity of valves in said pen for controlling the filling and feeding operations of said pen, and a drag washer connected with one of said valves and operative interiorly of one of said cylindrical members, said drag washer having a friction engaging peripheral surface establishing connection with the interior wall of said telescopically slidable cylindrical member.

l1. In a fountain pen of the class described, a barrel structure, a plurality of concentrically disposed cylindrical members connected With said barrel structure, one of said cylindical members being telescopically slidable with respect to said barrel structure, an ink feeding head carried by one end of said barrel structure, a pair of valve systems for controlling the lling and feeding operations of said pen, and a drag Washer engageable with the interior wall of said telescopically slidable member for controlling the operation of said valve systems, said drag washer comprising a at disc extending laterally of said telescopically slidable cylindrical member and having a ymultiplicity of ispirally c lisposed;` slots .therein for impartingreSiliencyto said-vldragfwasher.

:121` In .a fountain peniofthefrciessclescrbedfa barrel structure aplurelitypf .Concentreellydisf :posed cylindrical memberstcpnneted cwithtsaid barrel structure; one-fV f .,Said cylindrical( `members being telescopically s lidable with respect to said Asaidlyalye systems, ,said drag Avxtlaslier .comprising a. flat disc-disposed laterallrof Sadtlopically slidable cylindrical member and having 1an anm13 -In la fountainpen;aL-barrelsl cture, la multiplicity jof cylindrical members connected `with 4said barrel structure, ,one of saidcylindrical members lbeing telescopicelly Sldfblfwilh 4vrespect to said barrel structure, aninkffeeding head connected-With the lewer. end 9i Said barrelstructure, saidvbarrel structurehayingthe upperzen'd thereof centrallyfported, aas-valve Aseat inthe. cenltrally ported end offsaid barrel structure, .an air feeding tube extending laxiallyofsaid:barrel structure between said .in lg fneedingnlrhead and through the ported upper end of -lthelbarrel structure, `Vthe-air tube having an annular flange/thereon adapted to seat. against the valve Yseat in the fend cf ,said barrel structure, the. drag Washer operatiyegin `A,theginterier upperI portion of said telescopically slidable member, and, aconn'ection between `said drag washefextending through said `structure,2

'tion of both of said valves. Y

l5.y In a fountain-pen, V'a barrel structure, an -inlgA feeding head carried by the lower end of said barrel structure,a `multiplicity of concentric cylindrical members connected With said barrel air tube andlconnected `withftlievalve in ,the

Ylower endofl theair tube for-controlling the operationof said valve and. the venting of air beltweenthe upper endr of. said air tube and the port in the end of said barrel structure for con- 14; Ina `oi'lntain,pen, a barrel'structure, an

Jinkfeeding headcarriedr by the lower end of said barrelstructure, a multiplicity of concentric cylindrical: mernbersfconnected -with said barrel s trufctureg lone' ofv said-cylindrical `members being telescopicallyv-slidable with respect to saidbarrel air feedingtube extending axially through saidbarrel structure, a Avalve at each end of slaidsir feeding' tube for controlling the mung anclywritng A,operations of said pen, and a longitudinally movable `axially extending rod member operative automatically undercontrol of the slid`- ing movement -of vsaid telescopically slidable member for simultaneously controlling the operastructure', cne .ofv said` cylindrical members. being lftelescopicallyvslidable with respect to said barrel structure, an lair feeding ltube extending axially through said barrel structure, a vali/'e at each end cf said air Ifeeding tube for controlling the lling and Writing `operations of said pen, and a friction device engageable with the interior walls of said telescopically slidable member for simultaneously controlling the operation of both of saidvalves. f ALFRED H. SWAN.

trolling the `feeding and Writing operations of said penv 

